Poland

The introduction of provisions under which a pharmacist and a pharmaceutical technician may refuse to provide a pharmaceutical service if its performance is potentially endangering to the life or health of the patient or others, may lead to further restrictions on access to contraceptives for women

Restriction of reproductive rights

On 30 April 2020, the Polish Parliament passed legislation amending the Code of Civil Procedure and some other acts, providing for the possibility of the police issuing an order for the perpetrator of violence to leave the premises occupied together with the victim, without the need to initiate criminal proceedings

In May 2018, a wave of teachers' strikes protesting against their low wages swept through Poland. In the ongoing public discussions on this subject, the discriminatory aspect of the strike was overlooked and the voice of female teachers was inaudible

The provision of the ’4 Plus’ retirement benefits only to mothers under the new Act on Parental Supplementary Benefit of 31 January 2019, discriminates men and strengthens the stereotypical division of social gender roles.

Draft amendments to the law on family violence of 2005, do not comply to the Istanbul Convention

The new law on higher education provides that female and male scientists are subjected to general provisions on the differentiation of retirement age, meaning that women shall retire at the age of 60, while men retire at the age of 65.

The ‘Family 500 plus program’ discourages women from engaging in work and disadvantages single parents, disproportionately affecting women

The City Council in Nysa adopted a resolution which provided for a privilege in receiving so-called ‘care vouchers’, among others to children from married families and families in which only one parent works

The administration of an aqua park in Wrocław decided that during one day in a week the sauna area will be open to women only

Since 2013 the Government has promised to take radical steps in order to eliminate the gender pay gap. This has resulted in a tool to measure the gap which has been made publicly accessible to all employers

The Court of Appeals in Gdańsk has ordered the owner of a restaurant to pay 2.000,- PLZ (EUR 250) in damages, for discriminating a breastfeeding mother.

One year after introducing the so-called ‘Family 500 Plus’ law has confirmed objections regarding its discriminatory character towards families with one child, in particular single mothers.

The conviction was issued in a prescriptive judgment sentencing the lowest possible fine of PLN 20 (approx. EUR 4). The court did not take into account the possibility of sex-related discrimination in access to services.

The Law reinstating the prior retirement age scheme of 65 for men and 60 for women, adopted by the lower chamber of the Parliament

The new benefit for mothers of disabled children who resigned of abortion, as an excuse for introduction later on of the further restriction of abortion law